Intoxicated Man Dies After Breaking Into Apartment

Riverside, Ca-  On Tuesday August 3, 2004 at approximately 9:00 P.M. Riverside Police Officers responded to the area of 5th and Lemon Streets regarding a man screaming. Upon arrival neighbors directed the officers to an upstairs apartment in the 3400 block of 5th Street. Neighbors said the screaming man broke a plate glass window with his head and then climbed into the apartment through the broken window.

Officers approached the broken window and heard someone inside repeatedly crying for help. They identified themselves as police officers and asked the person inside the apartment to come to the door. They got no response, but could see a person’s hand protruding from a closet doorway. Fearing there was someone injured or in danger inside the apartment, the officers forced entry into the apartment.

They located 30 year-old Dwayne Leonard of Colton inside the closet. He was covered in blood as a result of injuries he sustained while breaking the window. No one else was inside the apartment. Officers handcuffed Leonard and immediately called for medical aid. He was transported to Riverside Community Hospital where blood tests revealed he was heavily under the influence of cocaine. He was admitted to the hospital where he was treated for minor lacerations and cocaine toxicity. On Thursday August 5, 2004 he died.

Investigators who responded to the scene discovered Leonard did not live at the apartment. Prior to police arriving he caused significant property damage to two apartments, including broken doors, cabinets, and plumbing fixtures. His wife reported him as an Endangered Missing Person on August 2, 2004 to the Colton Police Department.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Detective Rick Cobb at 951-320-8034.